Elected medical



(No Model.)

J. W. DENNIS.

I ELEUTRO MEDICAL APPLIANCE. No. 285,977. Patented Oct. 2. 1883.

E I W N PETERS Fhulo-Llthugnalmn Washmgmn. Bic.

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ATENT J AMES \V.

n. DENNIS,

ELECTRO-MEDICAL APPLIANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 285,977, dated October 2, 1883.

Application filed May 5, 18513. (No model.)

T (0% whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES \V. DENNIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oincinnati, Hamilton county, Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electro- Medica-l Appliances, of which the following is a s1 )'ecification.

My invention relates to appliances for themedical use of electricity, being intended to IO provide a means of applying the current cally with convenience and certainty, accord ing to the particular needs of the patient, and adapted to the particular contour of the part under treatment.

To this end my invention consists, prima rily, in a cap or holder, ofinsulating material, adapted to the contour of the particular part or feature under treatment, and to be retained thereon either by its fit upon such part or feature or its relation to surrounding parts, and

by such. fit to hold a suitably-formed poleplate of conducting material upon or in electrieal connection with the affected part, whereby the removal and reapplication of the trans- 2 5 mitting-pole can be effected with convenience by the patient, and retained when in position, leaving the hands free to manipulate the battery or connections.

It also consists in a particular form of hold- 0 er, adapted in the present case to a tooth or similar part, and also in a switch device or wire-holder designed to be used in connection with the poleholder above referred to, all as hereinafter more fully described.

3 5 Forms of apparatus embodying and illustratin g the principle of my invention are shown in. the accompanying drawings, in wh.ich

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a double holder adapted for application to a tooth, to

the nose, or similar part. Figs. 2 and 3 are eross-seetions of the same in position upon a tooth; and Fig. 4 is a view, partly sectional, of the switch device.

The parts herein described are indicated by letters of reference in the drawings.

I In carrying out my invention I employ a small plate, a, preferably of platinum, formed to the size and contour of the affected part as nearly as circumstances require, and embed the same in a matrix or holder, preferably formed of vulcanized rubber, also adapted in form to the contour of the part or surrounding parts. In the ease shown the holder con sists' of twoparts, A A, formed at correspond ing surfaces to the contour of the. teeth, and 5 5 held by a short spring, I), either of the same or different material, the whole forming a clamp which may be slipped over and upon the tooth C and press against it from opposite sides. The pole-plates a to occupy a portion of the interior surfaces of the clamp, and are provided with battery wires 0, extending through the backing-pieces, and provided with suitable insulating covering.

I11 use the surface of the plate is covered with a piece of cloth, sponge, or punk, moistened with saline or slightly-acidulated water, which forms a conducting medium between the plate and the part to which it is to be applied.

It will be obvious, without a detailed description, that the wires 0 0 may be used either attached to the same pole of the battery, the other pole being held in the hand or applied to some contiguous part; or these may be attached to opposite poles of the battery, thus passing the current directly through the part, as indicated by the dotted arrow in Fig. 2.

Either of the pole-plates may be insulated at will by interposing a piece of rubber sheet, (6, So as shown in Fig. 3. g

The spring I) may be formed of steel or other suitable metal, as it is insulated by the pole holders A A from the electrical conductors.

It will be also obvious thataholder or clamp, 8 5 substantially similar to that exhibited, may be used with equal advantage upon the nasal bridge, and, indeed, with all parts where the clamp form may be employed; also, that the backing may be made of other substances- 0 such as wood, glass, celluloid, and other nonconducting substances, and even of dental gum or impression waX-the object being to thoroughly insulate the plate a from all possibility of contact with other parts than that 5 directly under treatment, and at the same time to insure its application at required intervals to the same locality.

The use of the appliance is facilitated by employing the device 13, (shown in Fig. 4-,) which consists of two conducting-bars, c 0,

' provided with insulating-coveriugs, and held side by side by rubber bands ff or otherwise. The bars project from their insulating-coverings below, where they are provided with bindingscrews g g, and suitable perforations for making the battery-wire connections, and also with a switch-bar, 71, pivoted upon one of the bars 0, and swinging over upon and electrically engaging the other. Supposing the wires 0 c to be connected with opposite poles of the battery, the switch 71 may be used to short-circuit the current pending the proper adjustment of the other parts. The upper ends of the bars 0 c are recessed to admit the connection of the wires 0 c by insertion of their free ends as plugs into the recesses; or, as a preferred construction, the bars 0 e are simply tubes, into which ordinary binding-posts are inserted as'plugs at the lower ends, and the connection made, as before described, at the upper ends.

The device may also be used as a handle to support the pole-plate holders (where the nature of the use does not admit of a self-sustaining device, as in clamp form) by making the conductors c c ofwires stiltenough to sustain the holders from the handle in the desired position.

I claim as my invention and desireto secure by Letters Patent 1. A holder or pole pieee for the medical application of the electric current to the human body, consisting substantially of a metallic conducting-plate held upon or embedded in the surface of a backing-piece of vulcanized rubber or other insulating material adapted to the contour of the feature or part undertreatmei 1t, and held in place by fitting upon the said or adj accent parts, and provided with insulated battery-connections, substantially as set forth.

2. In an appliance of the character described, a holder or pole-piece consistingof two parts, each provided with a condu cti ng-pl ate, and the two united by an insulated spring-connection, adapted to be used as .a clamp to retain the plates against opposite sides of atooth or other feature or part of the body, substantially as specified.

3. In an appliance ofthe character described, a switch-handle consisting of two insulated tubes or bars, with provision at both ends for connecting electrical conductors, and a switch for shortcircuiting the electric current at will, substantially as specified In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

.IAllIlGS \V. DENNIS.

\Vitncsses:

L. M. Hosm, ALEX. HAM! UPON. 

